The range is the centerpiece of every kitchen. It's used daily to prepare home-cooked meals and its performance can mean the difference between delicious and undercooked or burnt results. So, whether you're new to cooking or a seasoned chef, it's imperative to get the best electric range you can.
Whatever your budget, there's a range out there for everyone. Some more premium models can be controlled by apps, feature convection settings and offer self-cleaning functions. However, you don't need to break the bank to find a good range, here are the best electric ranges on the market right now.
- Check out how to clean an oven
- How to clean a glass stove to keep it looking tidy.
- Want gas instead of electric? Check out the best gas ranges
What are the best electric ranges?
After extensive research, we've found the best electric range to be the GE Profile PB911SJSS. It's reasonably priced at just over $1000 and offers a great performance from both the stove and spacious oven. It features five burners of varying power and can self-clean with steam.
If you struggle to multitask in the kitchen, then a range with two ovens might be best. For this, we recommend the LG LDE4415ST. While still fitting in a single bay, this electric range can cook in two ovens independently and the larger one is spacious enough to hold the Thanksgiving turkey.
If you want more versatility from your range, then the Samsung NE59M6850SS is worth considering. This single-door electric range can actually be divided into two ovens which function separately. This gives you the advantages of both a single and double oven range.
If you're after the best value electric range, then that would be the GE JB645RKSS. It provides all of basics, including a self-clean function, and wouldn't look bad in any kitchen. While it's a great price point, you won't be compromising on its performance.
For all-around great cooking and baking performance, you can't beat the well-priced GE Profile FB911SJSS. It has five burners, ranging from a super-high one for quick boiling to an ultralow one for keeping a dinner plate warm. Although there are bigger ovens on the market, this 5.3-cubic-foot cavity will easily handle a large bird.
The oven comes with three racks and heats evenly so it will do a good job on the tough task of baking three sheets of cookies at once. You can use the convection oven to bake a nice crust on loaves of bread, or perfectly brown a roast beef. For everyday family meals, it has an air fry function so you can have crispy chicken and brussels sprouts without giving up counterspace to another appliance. The GE Profile connects to an app on your mobile so while you’re in the yard or the laundry room, you can get an alert when your banana bread is done. You can also control it with Alexa or the Google Assistant. Overall, this is the best electric range you can buy.
The best electric range for budget shoppers will provide the basic functions at a good price. The GE JB645RKSS has everything that most cooks will need, including a self-cleaning oven. It has four burners, two of which have an impressive 3100W of power for when you're trying to make spaghetti fast.
The 5.3 cubic-foot oven is plenty big enough for a turkey or several baking dishes but it has only two oven racks, which might be an issue when you're really trying to crank out holiday cookies. Some users find the lack of a simple dial for setting the oven temperature an inconvenience, as the touch controls on the panel can be a little confusing. However, keep in mind that with electronic controls it's easier to set a precise temperature, and you get a delay start feature.
Critics and users alike love the Samsung NE59M6850SS for its performance, stylish looks and flexibility. It sports five burners, including two high-power ones for quickly boiling water and one for keeping food warm. The Samsung SmartThings app lets you monitor the oven temperature and set a timer, but, for safety reasons, will not start the oven.
The highlight of this range is the oven, which can be used as one huge oven or two smaller ones by inserting a divider. If you are roasting a turkey, you get a whopping 5.9 cubic feet of space. When you're baking a chiffon cake and broiling salmon at the same time, put the divider in and it becomes two ovens that can run at different temperatures — and, no, your cake won't taste fishy! The dual door lets you open the door to the top one without opening the bottom, so your cake won't fall when you check on the fish. Both ovens have convection systems to speed up cooking and still give your roast chickens a crispy skin. The only downside is that some people find it a little tricky to insert the divider.
If your home often seems like a restaurant, then you'll need an oven that can handle the constant output of food. The LG LDE4413BD has two ovens that can run independently, so you can cook two different items at different temperatures at the same time. On top there's a 3.0-cubic-foot oven that's great for pizzas and casseroles, while below there's a larger, 4.3-cubic-foot one for roasts or multiple sheets of snickerdoodles. One thing to note: Unlike the Samsung FlexDuo model, you can't combine these two ovens into one. While the LG's bottom oven should accommodate all but the most monstrous of turkeys, you will have to bend to access it.
You also get five burners with power ranging from 3200W for quick boils to only 100W for keeping the pot roast warm. Both ovens have a 10-minute cleaning feature for light touch-ups, as well as a self-cleaning cycle. Do keep in mind that with this design you don't get a storage drawer at the bottom.
If you have fantasies of a robot cook making you dinner, the Whirlpool WEEA25H0HZ is as close as you'll get to that vision right now. It has a Scan-to-Cook feature that sets the cooking temperature automatically after you scan the barcode of food. It can also integrate with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, so you can ask your smartphone to start the oven for you.
If you are in an extra lazy mood or don’t know what to make, Whirlpool's oven can integrate with the recipe app Yummly, so you can use its image recognition to see what's in your fridge, pick a recipe, and then have the app set the oven for you.
This range has a huge, 6.4-cubic-foot oven and five burners of varying power, including one for keeping the soup hot for a latecomer. One thing to keep in mind is that Whirlpool's AquaLift is a steam-cleaning cycle and won't make much of a dent on burnt-on stains. It's best to do quick wipe-outs after any messy baking or roasting.
A slide-in range gives you the upscale look of a built-in unit. While the Bosch 800 Series HEI8046U is pricier than most free-standing models, it's a lot less expensive than a custom-fitted or professional-style range but will still be a significant upgrade when it comes to aesthetics. It has heavy-duty construction, a glass panel and metal control knobs.
You do sacrifice some oven space with this model. While you will be able to fit in the turkey, you may not be able to pack in as many side dishes at once. Below the oven, in place of storage space, there's a warming drawer that will come in handy when you're throwing a party. As you would expect at this price, the oven comes with three racks and is self-cleaning.
People who love to cook and are lucky enough to have access to both gas and electric lines, may be willing enough to invest in a 36-inch pro-style range. On the top of the Thermador Pro Harmony Pro PRD366WHU, you get six powerful burners, two of which can be dialed down to a very low heat for keeping a sauce warm without curdling or melting chocolate without burning
However, you don't get an oven that's any bigger than on a typical 30-inch model but you do get luxuries. In addition to convection capabilities, the oven has three racks that slide out, two interior halogen lights, and the fastest self-cleaning cycle on the market. However, the main reason you're paying the big bucks is for an absolutely beautiful all-stainless-steel statement piece.
The Samsung NE63T8711SS/AA is a luxury appliance at a mainstream price. As it slides into a space between cabinets, it gives you a custom look for a fraction of the price of a true built-in. On this range, the controls are up front where they’re easy to access without reaching across the stovetop. When you turn the dials they illuminate so the settings are easy to see and if you forget to turn the burner off, it will be immediately apparent.
The cooktop has one of the highest power burners on any range. It’ll shorten the time it takes for spaghetti water to boil and give you intense heat for stir-frying or searing. In the large oven, you’ll find both convection and air fry settings and an air fry basket is included. We only wish you got 3 instead of 2 racks so you could bake more cookies at once. You can control this range with an app on your phone or through Alexa or Google Assistant.
In addition to being a state of the art electric range, the LG LREL6325F has air frying capabilities, eliminating the need to buy still another countertop cooking appliance. It’s equipped with a large 6.3 cu. ft. convection oven and 5 burners of varying power, including one for keeping the soup or stew warm for seconds.
This range is equipped with the latest smart features. To see how your banana bread or meat loaf is progressing, you knock twice on the glass oven window and the light comes on. You can monitor and control the range with an app on your phone or by giving voice commands to Alexa or Google Assistant. The range also connects to cooking apps which will automatically send temperature settings to the oven. Lastly, you can use the app to diagnose problems before you call for a service technician.
The LG LSE4616ST features a large 6.3 cubic feet capacity, meaning you have ample space for family dinners. It would suit an avid baker, as the ProBake Convection setting is designed to give the best results when baking — the heating element has actually been moved from the bottom of the oven to the back wall for even heat distribution just for this function. It’s easy to clean up after thanks to the steam self-clean setting which helps pre-loosen any food debris. The glass controls and flat stove also make cleaning an easy task.
The standout feature for this electric range is the induction stove. While you will need to invest in some induction pans to use this feature, it works much faster than traditional ceramic. It’s safer to use as well because the stove wont heat up unless it detects the pan. It provides the instant response of gas, without the difficulty of cleaning up afterwards. However, you will need to ensure the pans fit the burners accurately, or it won’t work!
How to choose the best electric range for you
Type: There are three main types of ranges. Free-standing models have a backsplash and are finished on the sides so they can sit anywhere in the kitchen. Slide-in models, as the name suggests, slide into a space between your kitchen cabinets and countertops, giving you a custom look for less than a built-in model. Built-ins are designed to be physically installed into the kitchen in a cavity or other space. For this guide, we have focused primarily on free-standing ranges, the most popular and affordable type, with one slide-in recommendation.
Should you invest in dual fuel? If you have a natural gas line available in your area or are willing to set up a liquid propane tank in your yard, you can consider buying a dual-fuel range with gas burners above an electric oven. While you will get a quicker response when you turn the burners on and adjust the heat level, electric elements bring water to a boil more quickly, and you might miss their speed if you are accustomed to electric and switch to gas. You will also find there are more parts to clean on a gas stovetop.
What about induction? These give you the instant response of gas, very quick boil times and easy cleanup, as nothing burns onto the surface of the range. Using an electromagnetic field, they heat up magnetic pots and pans without heating the surface of the cooktop. However, you may need to buy new cookware because induction burners only work with pans made of cast iron or stainless steel. If a magnet sticks to the bottom of the pan, it's induction compatible.
When to replace an electric range
Most electric range brands offer a one-year warranty, but according to the National Association of Home Builders, you can expect yours to last about 13 years. We don’t recommend the extended warranty, since repairs within your range’s lifetime typically cost less than the warranty itself.
If the repair cost is fifty percent or more than the price of a new range you’ll want to think about replacing it. The most common range complaints are that the temperature isn’t correct. Check the manual and see if you can recalibrate your oven yourself. If you can’t, or that doesn’t solve the problem, a serviceperson may be able to fix the oven without charging an astronomical price. Specific elements that break, including the glass ceramic top, can be easily replaced quite cheaply. However replacing a circuit board will be expensive and you’re best buying a new range.
The best replacement for a coil range is a smoothtop range. Not only are they easier to clean, they also come with the latest features. Even newer glass ceramic top models have updates that weren’t available a few years ago. All ranges come with at least one power burner for boiling water, stir frying or stovetop grilling; they will also have at least one burner to keep food at a steady simmer. For using a griddle or poacher, you’ll find bridge burners. Below the stovetop convection ovens are available with temperature probes and warming drawers for moderate prices. These ovens often have pre-set settings for specific foods or functions like turkey or pizza, air frying, or proofing bread.
You may want to consider upgrading to an induction range. Prices on these high tech appliances have come down considerably in the last few years. Induction gives you the instant response of gas burners and brings water to a boil much faster.
More and more ranges connect to WiFi, allowing you to preheat or control your oven from your phone, Alexa or Google Assistant. Some smart ranges can diagnose problems and in some cases, alert the service center. Look for models that connect with recipe apps and automatically apply the correct times and temperatures.
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